Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 35 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
jstan

climber
Oct 4, 2012 - 09:37pm PT
We are in the midst of a revolution and I would know more about this hostel approach, except for one thing. I have to log into facebook and expose myself to all the associated capitalistic manipulations.

No thanks.
The Lisa

Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
Oct 4, 2012 - 09:39pm PT
Here is a better route, John, it avoids the perils of Facebook:http://bunksinthegunks.blogspot.com/
OR

Trad climber
Oct 4, 2012 - 09:45pm PT
Crikey! Is that a forced labor camp?
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
Oct 5, 2012 - 12:24pm PT
I just assumed this was about that old building in the amc campground, where you can just stay for free, AND walk to the crag.
Alan Rubin

climber
Amherst,MA.
Oct 5, 2012 - 01:51pm PT
That "old building in the AMC campground"---boy,you must not have been in the Gunks in quite a while. The unofficial "AMC campground" was put off-limits for camping maybe 20 years ago, with the old building now preserved by the Mohonk Preserve as an historic site. It was really a shame to lose that area to camping as it was by far the best option in a region with an amazing lack of decent places to camp. (One of the great mysteries of the Gunks for me has always been "where do all those hordes who fill the cliffs on Saturdays and Sundays sleep on Saturday night?"---as their numbers are far larger than the number of available places to sleep.) Anyway I have many, many fond memories of evenings spent in that campground and the cabin.
goatboy smellz

climber
Nederland-GulfBreeze
Oct 5, 2012 - 01:56pm PT
Not looking to pile on Kovar, I'm sure that place will be popular with the turbo betties.
MudPuppy

Trad climber
Gliese 581 g
Oct 5, 2012 - 04:49pm PT
The long night drive from Ithaca to the old AMC cabin with the dog for company, coffee on Breakfast Rock out front the next morning. Fall colors from the upper pitches. Catching a ride with Fritz Weissner back up to the Trapps.

Good times long gone.

Where DOES anyone sleep at the Gunks anymore?
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
Oct 6, 2012 - 05:21pm PT
uh oh, once again I'm busted for giving out 20 year old beta. lol
OR

Trad climber
Oct 6, 2012 - 05:38pm PT
Hey, so my post above was jokey, not mean spirited. I would haved loved that place in my 20's. I have always loved the climbing hostel style bivi's. The AMC campground..... Was that camp slime on the left before you get to the bridge? I spent many nights there in the late 80's. The dirt road before the hairpin was great too, very social on fri nights sometimes. Great memories of rolling in on a friday night...stop for a few beers at Bachus and meet a few other climbers then crashing at camp slime or the dirt road at midnight. Good times
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
Oct 6, 2012 - 06:31pm PT
No, camp slime was across from uberfalls. AMC campground was half a mile down the road on the right. Right where the road turns, I can see it in my head. Combination lock: 5-7-5-2 on the chain to get in. What grades do AMCer's talk about? 5.7 What grade do they actually climb? 5.2 Now 20 years later I still know the code.

Back then I had got a job in NJ, moving from Colorado, and the only way to handle it was to live in New Paltz and commute 1 1/2 hours to work. I lived on an apple farm, it was heaven. A little cold in the winter though.
Oldfattradguy2

Trad climber
Here and there
Oct 6, 2012 - 09:15pm PT
Alan,

The mystery may be solved, at least in one point in time, in the early and mid 80's. It seems a lot of folks were on my floor and the floors of other local climbers. Made finding a partner saturday mornings real easy, getting school work done not so easy, except for getting help on my programming homework by a certain math type climbing friend.

Ah, the old AMC, cabin, the location of many twisted, substance abuse filled nights of the '70's....
The Bunkhouse

climber
New Paltz, NY
Oct 9, 2012 - 02:35pm PT
Great - I look forward to meeting you at The Bunkhouse!
Gunkie

Trad climber
East Coast US
Oct 9, 2012 - 02:58pm PT
Where DOES anyone sleep at the Gunks anymore?

I, for one, now iron leg a 2.5 hour drive each way, doing mostly day trips. Coffee is the great equalizer. Camping in the Gunks has become rather bothersome. Personally, I was a Warwarsing Turnpike bivy guy, BITD. Had my Toyota truck perfectly rigged for sleeping, cooking, and lounging.

I've heard of a few efforts to create private campgrounds near the cliffs. Most shut down by the Gardiner Township zoning committee (and for good reason based on behavior of those who stayed at the multi-use area on rt 299). I stayed at KOA once, 10 miles out, and had a rough experience. I understand that there is camping north of New Paltz, but have never used it and have heard little about that place.

Drive fast, take chances.
happiegrrrl

Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
Oct 9, 2012 - 03:31pm PT
Best 'O Luck to the Bunkhouse!
The Lisa

Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
Oct 9, 2012 - 03:32pm PT
Accommodation is tough to find around the Gunks. I used to car camp but then police would wake us up and make us move. Camp Slime by the steel bridge is ok but can fill up quickly and the only facilities are the 2 portajohns across the road.

I am sure cagey regulars know some quiet spots or have an agreement with a landowner to car camp.

I never stayed at KOA but Creekview Campground in Rosendale is cheap. It is a more family-oriented place but they have showers. They do fill up for holiday weekends so you cannot count on staying there if you decide on a last-minute trip.
Alan Rubin

climber
Amherst,MA.
Oct 9, 2012 - 03:33pm PT
Yeah, Gunkie, I assumed that a lot of folks did the back and forth commute between The City (and environs) and the Gunks both days, but that always seemed too much driving for me---even when I was based in Westchester. And for those of us who live further away, then commuting each day is not really an option. The KOA is pretty vile---goes without saying, I guess. The place to the north, in Rosendale is OK but very limited. It just seems that folks spread out and find little niches to spend the night---camping places--official or not, friend's floors, pullouts on country roads,back home etc. There has been talk for years of the AAC building a climber's campground at the Gunks. I know, as Gunkie states, that past efforts have been stymied by the town of Gardiner (the cliffs are in that town, but most of the climber's money---such as there is, ends up in New Paltz instead). Anybody have any word on how things currently stand on that project?
happiegrrrl

Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
Oct 9, 2012 - 03:42pm PT
Edit: Update on AAC campground: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/p/gunks-campground

The bad news is, if the AAC c/g does open then Slime and MUA will be closed. I hate to see that, but change does happen, and those of us who only knew MUA/Slime will then be in the waxing poetic about camping there similarly to those of you who camped on the preserve, the c.g where Peterskill is and the like.



I used to do day trips and on both-day weekends would sleep at the MUA. Then I got a van (1988 Toyota Mini) and had a conundrum, since I wanted to stake out a campsite, but since I had a van to sleep in, it was hoggish to want a set up at MUA.

Then, the van died, and began 4 years of an interesting commute... Each Friday afternoon: Loaded up with a big pack, a rolling duffel, a medium sized cooler, and Teddy on a leash, I would taxi to Grand Central, Metro North to Poughkeepsie, pay a woman who picked me up there to taken me to Slime. And reverse it each Sunday. People would see me loaded up with all that and say "Can I help you?" and I would reply "Yes - move out of the way!" It was a sheer will effort, carrying all that stuff between taxi and train.

Then - the universe conspired to make my life easier(in that respect), and I got a gig as caretaker for the Coxing trailhead area. Now I have a pretty luxe bivy.
Tony Bird

climber
Northridge, CA
Oct 9, 2012 - 05:59pm PT
... otherwise, "the cheapest motel room in new paltz," claims the sign in front of motel 87, goes for $76 on a rainy weekday night.
Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
Oct 9, 2012 - 09:16pm PT
New Paltz is an agricultural area. Look around, its all apple farms. There must be an apple farmer in that town who would let people camp. The whole area is populated by old hippies and artists. It's 10 miles from Woodstock. When I was there one of my neighbors organized these festivals called Hemp Fests, never mind the details, but they would pay a farmer to have thousands of people camp over the weekend, build a stage with a wall of speakers and loud music, food trucks with people making burritos, and totally trash the place. The hemp fests came to an end when some kid od'd on multiple drugs and drowned himself in the lake. Turns out, his dad was the sherrif in some nearby town. When I did my Christmas shopping one year, I just drove into the rural parts where people have art studios, and bought everybody potteries and other crafts. My point, if there is one, is that the people are so cool in new paltz that its impossible that no one there would let you camp.
OR

Trad climber
Oct 9, 2012 - 09:22pm PT
Wait, so camp slime is still actually open? Is it an official spot with registration and time limits? If so who runs it?
Messages 1 - 20 of total 35 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta